The Department of Science and Technology, through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP), funded more than PhP114 million worth of projects for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in 2009, according to SET-UP report.

The report identified the 120 approved projects for MSMEs in 2009. SET-UP likewise processed 331 proposals for the year, with a total amount of  PhP211,480,420.90.

Among the priority sectors, food tops the list of approved projects for MSMEs, while horticulture/agriculture and metals/engineering tie in second place. Furniture, and gifts, housewares, and decoration (GHD) came in third and fourth respectively, followed by aquatic/marine.

The Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development  (PCASTRD) of the Department of Science and Technology recently awarded winners in the 2009 PCASTRD Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Awards in Advanced S&T.

Clinching the awards in the dissertation category are Proceso L. Fernandez, Jr. of the Ateneo de Manila University for “On the complexities of the block sorting and Poset cover problems” (Computer Science and IT) and Gay Jane P. Perez of the University of the Philippines Diliman for “Understanding the dynamics of unassisted group egress” (Physics).  Advisers are Dr. John Paul C. Vergara and Dr. Caesar A. Saloma, respectively. Fernandez and Perez received a plaque and P75,000 each while their advisers received P25,000 each. Meanwhile, all finalists received P25,000 each.